Monday, September 15, 2014

Is "King James Onlyism" in the Bible? Answering another Scholarship Only advocate.

Is "King James Onlyism" in the Bible? Answering another Scholarship Only advocate.Here is an article written by a Scholarship Only advocate. Before I examine his article, let me state what "Scholarship Onlyism" is. Scholarship Onlyism:The belief that God did not preserve His holy words and that He lost them. Men have done their best to copy and translate God's original writings down through the years, but unfortunately, man has not been able to preserve the originals for us. So to really understand the Bible, as originally written, we must rely on Bible scholars that have spent years studying Greek and Hebrew and let them tell us what was in the originals (that they have never seen) and what wasn't in the originals (which they have never seen). Though Scholarship Onlyism does take a most definite stand on the Holy Scriptures as originally written and they will defend every word of them (that they have never seen). Now I am a Bible believer. Let me give you the definition of Bible believer.Bible believer:The belief that God inspired the original writings and that He has also preserved His words exactly as they were originally written. That the scriptures we have today are inspired and holy, completely without error (Ps. 12:6-7, Isa. 40:8, Matt. 5:18, Matt. 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33, 1 Pet. 1:23-25, and 2 Tim. 3:15-17, Heb. 4:12). Further, Bible believers believe that the Bible is a living book that "liveth and abideth forever" and that GOD is the preserver of scripture (Ps. 12:7). When God is the preserver of scripture as the Bible says in Psalms 12:7, everything gets copied and translated exactly how it was originally written. Further, Bible believers believe that one of the attributes of the word of God is that it is not bound (2 Tim. 2:9) and that it will only work effectually in those that are saved Christians (1 Thes. 2:13, John 12:48).

Now let me examine the article written by the Scholarship Only advocate. (his article in red)

"The KJV-only debate often focuses the detailed outcomes of the viewpoint: verse comparisons, historical discussions and the like - but few people step back and look at the bigger picture, the essense of the KJV-only doctrine itself.

Every KJV-only supporter I have ever heard of or have been in contact with asserts the same thing: that the KJV is completely inerrant and the "only" true Bible for us in English, i.e. that the KJV, and no other translation, is the only authoritative rule of faith and practice. Also, every KJV-only supporter I have ever heard of or have been in contact with believes in "sola scriptura" ("by scripture alone"), meaning that the Bible is the only inspired and authoritative word of God and the only source for Christian doctrine. However, these two positions (which are the core of the KJV-only belief) are mutually exclusive!

Let me explain by way of some examples:

Baptists believe the doctrine that God made the world, the universe, and all that is in it. Why? Because we are told that in the Bible (Gen 1:1, Gen 2:4, Rev 10:6, etc.).

Baptists believe the doctrine that Adam and Eve's sin brought sin into the world. Why? Because we are told that in the Bible (Rom 5:12, etc.).

Baptists believe the doctrine that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. Why? Because we are told that in the Bible (Luke 1:27, Matt 1:23, etc.).

Baptists believe the doctrine that Jesus is the Son of God. Why? Because we are told that in the Bible (Mark 1:1, John 20:31, etc.).

Baptists believe the doctrine of physical resurrection. Why? Because we are told that in the Bible (1 Cor 15:42,51-54, 2 Cor 1:9, etc.).

conversely,

Baptists, unlike Catholics, don't believe the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Why? Because we are not told that in the Bible.

Baptists, unlike Oneness Pentecostals, don't believe the doctrine that one must speak in tongues to be saved. Why? Because we are not told that in the Bible.

Baptists, unlike Mormons, don't believe the doctrine that Jesus and Satan were born as siblings in heaven. Why? Because we are not told that in the Bible.

Baptists, unlike Jehovah's Witnesses, don't believe the doctrine that Jesus was Michael the archangel who became man. Why? Because we are not told that in the Bible.

Baptists, unlike Muslims, don't believe the doctrine that there is eternal hell for those that are not Muslims. Why? Because we are not told that in the Bible.

So why do KJV-onlyists, who claim that doctrine must come from the Bible (and who reject other doctrines that do not come from the Bible), believe in the doctrine of KJV-onlyism when it does not come from the Bible ?"

I am not sure what the Scholarship Only advocate means....I gave the verses for why I believe what I do about the Bible in my definition above. True, I do not have a verse that says "The King James Bible is the inspired word of God in English", but I do have verses that give characteristics of the Bible. I can then pin point which version that those verses describe. I believe by faith the the King James Bible is God's holy word. If someone else believes that the ESV, NIV, or NASB (etc.) are God's preserved words I am open to discussing it with them.

My question is this.....are there any verses that support Scholarship Onlyism???? I haven't seen any! I have PLENTY of verses that support what I believe, do the Scholarship Only advocates have any?

The apostles and Christ referred to their scrolls as "holy scriptures"...and that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God"...that the word of God "liveth and abideth forever"...that "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation"...Paul said that he was glad that the Thessalonians received the word of God, NOT as the word of men, "but as it is in truth, the word of God". I can give you verse after verse that says that God preserves His word and that it remains inspired throughout its preservation by Him. Can the Scholarship Only advocates give any verses that say that the scriptures did not get preserved and that God lost them? Can they give verses that say that the word of God is bound? Do they have verses to prove any of their beliefs about the Bible? I haven't seen them do it.